Germinal Movie Review 1993

Recounts the struggle of working-class coal miners in France, led by Depardieu and wife Miou-Miou, to stave off poverty. While greedy investors debate how far they should lower miners' wages, the Maheu family, spurred on by newly arrived Marxist and off-camera French pop star Renaud, lead a strike. Minor themes revolving around management's adulterous adventures provide some momentary relief to relieve short attention spans. Seems so self-consciously an epic drama, however, that the overall effect is ponderous. Adaptation of the 19th century novel by Zola. In French with English subtitles.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS
Running time 158 minutes.
Originally from French.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Miners & Mining, Books to Film: Emile Zola, Period Piece: 19th Century

Screenplay

Claude Berri, Arlette Langmann

Cast

Gerard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Bernard Fresson, Jean Carmet, Laurent Terzieff, Anny (Annie Legras) Duperey, Renaud, Jacques Dacqmine, Judith Henry

Cinematography

Yves Angelo

Director

Claude Berri

Music

Jean-Louis Roques

Producer

Claude Berri, Pierre Grunstein, Sony Pictures Classics

Awards

Cesar 1994: Cinematog., Costume Des.